Chapter 7 Summary

The elevens line up by the stage in the order of the numbers they were given at birth. Jonas was nineteen, meaning the nineteenth newchild born that year. His full number was eleven nineteen at the moment. That would soon change. After twelves, the adults rarely tracked their ages. When they felt ready, they asked for a Matching. They sometimes waited months or even years before a proper matching spouse was found. Later, they would apply for children, about five years apart; one male, one female, to make a complete family.

The Chief Elder spoke to the Elevens-almost-twelves; "This is the time when we acknowledge difference. You elevens have spent all your years till now learning to fit in, to standardize your behavior, to curb any impulse that might set you apart from the group. But today we honor your differences. They have...